Automatic stoker



July 12,1927 M..RATEL AUTOMATIC sToKER 5 sheets-sheet. ..1

Filed Feb. 20. 1922 July 12 1927.

M. RATEI.

AUTOMATIC lSTOKER Filed Feb. 20. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Snom/wo@ Julyv12, 1927. M. RATEL AUTOMATIC sToxER 2o. 1922 5 sheets-sheet s Filed Feb.

July 12, 1927. M. RATEL AUTOMATIC sToKER Filed Feb. 20. 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. RATEL AUTOMATIC STGKER July 12, 1927.

Filed Feb. 2o.4 1922 GOGO OOOO OOOO OIOlOrO. OO GO GO OO GO OO PatentedJaly i2, 1927.'

UNITED STATES 1,635,501? PATENT 'ori-"leienvl .munrcnaa'rnn or NEW Yoan;N; Y.

AUTOMATIC sroxnn.

Application fled February 20, 11222, Serial No. 538,004, and in FranceI'ebuary 25, .1981.

This invention relates to automatic stokers, and more particularly toautomatic underfeed stokers of the type wherein the.

` fuel and solid products of combustion are fed down an inclined fuelbed with the aid of gravity.

It has heretofore been propose topro'videl van underfeed Stoker of thetype above re; ferred to comprising a series of alternatingfuel retortsor troughs and downwardly inclined twyers, together with means in eachof the retorts for feeding fuel therethrough, .to the fuel bed. In viewof the relatively steep inclination ofl the fuel lbed necessary 1liv toutilize gravity for moving the fuel and solid products of combustiondownwardly,4

this type of Stoker requires considerable space in a verticaldirectionwhereby it is unavailable for usewith locomotives `or marineboilers where a relatively high fuel' bed cannot be installed. 1

It has further been proposed to provide an automatic underfeed stokercomprising alternatingy twyers and fuel 'retorts' or troughssuccessively decreasingin elevation fro'in a medial fore and aft line ofthe fur- .nace toward the sides thereof, with refuse t discharge gratesand ash pits at both sides of the furnace. Automatic underfeed stokersof this type'have been objected to for use in furnaces Q of locomotivesand marine l boilers because 'of the limited space available to -handlethe refuse and because the lateral disposition of the refuse handlingmeans has the defect of obstructing free passage of air to the lateralretorts.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome thesedisadvantages by incliningI the fuel bed from the sides of the furnaceto- I4o ward a central or intermediate .refuse dis-f charge openin andash-pit and providing adistribution o fuel ,tothe fuel bed which 1nsuresan even thickness from the top tothe bottom thereof.

provide a fuel bed substantially V-shaped in `:ross-section wherebysuilicient inclination is had to insure downward movement of the fuelwith the aid of gravity, and to progressively decrease the amount offuel supplied to the fuel bed from the top to the bottom thereof.

A further object of the invention vis to insure proper combustion of thefuel by' Efoviding the fuelbed with an air supply w ch t Ai furtherobject of the invention is to A further object of the inventionistovices adapted to conve the fuel )from a source of supply to thetorts of the stoker. v

A further object of the invention is to proel hoppers and revvide anautomatic underfeed stoker of the type heretofore referred to whereinii. tinuous dishcharge and removal of the es and clinkers is insured. 7o

A further object of the invention is to provide twyers of novelconstruction which are cooled by air passages of considerable area,circulation of water therethrough, or both.

76 provide a safety device'for the fuel feeding apparatus an dri meanstherefor whereby, if operation o one ormore of the fuel 4feeding membersis for any' reason prevented, the driving mechanism arid remaining fuelfeeding members will continue to operate.

Other objects of the invention relate to the provision of an automaticunderfeed Stoker which is. simple in construction, elflclent inoperation2 and inexpensive to maintain; which provldes formaintaining hih rates of combustion without danger of estruction of the parts, and theprovision of novel features of Qonstruction which are adapted'for use inany furnace installation.

B roadly stated,\the invention lcomprises an automatic underfeed stokerhaving a plu- `rality of alternating twyers and fuel retorts or troughsextendin longitudinally ofthe furnace and successively decreasing ineleva'tion vfrom the sides ofthe furnace toward a central orintermediate refuse discharge opening or chamber, (said retortspreferably having successively decreasing depth or capacit and providingwith the twyers, a fuel ed substantially V-shaped in cross-sec` tiondown which the fuel and solidv products v of combustion travel with theaid of gravity,

an air supply for the fuel bed which referably progressively decreasesfrom e up# permost twyers to -a central grate or grate's at the bottomof the fuel bed, and means for supplying and feeding fuel to the fuel.bed

so constructed and arranged as to 'decrease 110 the amount of fuelSupplied from the sides` of the furnace toward lthe center thereof. Themeans for thus decreasing the supply. of fuel from the sides toward thecenter of the furnace preferably consists of fuel feeding membersdisposed throughout a major por-y tion-of the length o f each retortwhich feed to the fuel bed rogressively decreasing quantities of fuel vtrough the successive retorts from the sides of the furnace toward a`medial fore and aft line thereof, which fuel feeding members may haveprogressively decreasing strokes, progressively decreasing motion to thefuel bed.

capacity, or both, and which produce by their movement an undulatory orwavelike The ,invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanicalexpressions, some of which are shown on the accompanying drawings, butit is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes ofillustrationonly and are not to bevconstrued as a definition of thelimits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims forthat purpose.

In said drawings, in which 4the same refer' ence characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the-several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2,.the linkagehereafter desig' ,'nated 35, 36, 37 being shown in elevation forclearness of understanding, and showing an automatic stoker andfuel-conveying mechanism embodying the present invention installed on alocomotive and fuel tender;

Fi 2 is a schematic plan of the Stoker I and icl-conveying apparatusshown in Fig.

.line 4 4 of Fig. 5 and shows another embodiment of the presentinvention installed with a marine boiler, with crushing and evacuationmechanism which ejects the ashes and refuse from the ash-pit;

- Fig. 5 is a part section and a part front elevation of the automaticstoker shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 'and 8 l,illustrate respectively a transverse section of animproved twyer, a side-elevation of the same, and a similar section withthe Side and top bars removed;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through parts of such an installationas is shown in- Figs. l and 3, illustrating a water-cooled twyer;

.Fig 10 is a section through the twyer shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view .through one of the fuel feedingmemberslshowing al safety slip-connection between the ram and thedriving means therefor;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail insideI elenaces, and therefore, as it isnot limited to any particular type of boiler or furnace construction,certain details of the latter have not been illustrated. x

In the embodiment shown inFigs. 1 to 3, wherein the automatic Stoker ofthis invention is shown installed in the furnace of a locomotive, thefuel retorts or troughs 1 alternate with the twyersy 2 and" successivelydecrease in depth from the sides of the furnace toward a medial fore andaft line thereof, and the twyers are stepped downwardly from vthe sidesof the furnace to successively decrease their elevation toward thecenter of the furnace. Thetwyers and retorts preferably comprise twoseries` one on each side of a medial fore and aft line of the furnace toform a fuel bed substantially V-shaped in cross-section, and the lowerpart is provided with a plurality of grates 3 adjacentA to the lowermosttwyers and disposed on both sides of said medial line to provide acentral refuse discharge opening 4 at the bottom of the fuel bed. Asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the` ashpit 5 lextends longitudinally ofthe furnace and is disposed centrally thereof below the lrefusedischarge opening. Automatic evacuation of the refuse f rom the ash-pitis, in this case, effected with the aid of gravity by means of spouts 6on the'bottom of the ashpit The fuel is fed through each retort l by aplurality of fuel feeding members which are of progressively decreasingca'- pacity from the sides toward the center of the furnace and aredisposed throughout a major portion of the length of each retort. In theform shown, Vthe fuel feeding members comprise a main fuel feedingmember or ram 7 supplied from a hopper 8, and a plurality of secondarypushers 10 carried on a rod-11.y having reciprocating motion on thebottom of the retort by connection of the same with the ram 7. Thestrokes ofthe fuel feeding means in lsuccessive rel I the' rods 13, androds 16 of the feeding rams tending substantially throughout the lengthof the fuel feeding members therein. There is thus 'provided a fuelfeeding means exof each retort and havingl a progressively decreasingcapacityv to feed progressively decreasing quantitles of fuel throughthe successive retorts from the sides of the furnace toward thecenterthereof.

The fuel feeding rams 7 may be driven in any suitable way and, in theform shown' in Fig.l 2, driving of said rams is effected by means ofsteam pistons 12, the rods 13 of which are connected to a rod"14centrally pivoted at 15 to a stationary part of the Stoker. Theconnection between the rod 14,

is effected by means of thrust pins 11 which are disposed. foradjustment in openings of said rods whereby the strokes of the rams 7may be adjusted as desired.

. ing a continuation of the sides of the fuel In order to insure propercombustion of the fuel, the-fuel bed is provided with an air supplywhich progressively decreases from the sides of the furnace toward thecentral grates. As shown in Fig. 3, air is supplied from a conduit 17through aper tures in the twyers which progressively decrease in size ineach successive twyer (Fig. 3),.and the air supply to the grates ispreferably adjusted by a' plurality of dampers 18 disposed in suitableopenings in the walls of air boxes 19 arranged'under the. grates.

Any suitable type .of automatic means for 'crushing the cindel's andslag or for carrying away the ashes may be employed, the

central ash-pit being shown as provided with one or more crushers 20which receive movement b means of rods 21 actuated by the oscillatmg rod14 and levers 22 carrying pawls 23 rotating ratchet wheels 24 whichalternately transmit movement to bevel gears 25 and the pinion 26 keyedon the shaft of the crusher.

In accordance with the present invention, there is preferably combinedwith the automatic Stoker means for supplying fuel to the fuel retortsand the fuel feeding inembers therein. In the embodiment shown in 1 to.3,'the fuel supplying means com- 4 the fuel is fed from the tender tothe hopper, or hoppers 8. Each of the troughs 27 is provided at one endwith a main fuel feeding member or ram 28 disposed below an opening, 29in the bottom of the fuel tender through which fuel enters the troughs27 with theaid of gravity. Each of the troughs 27 is pro-` vided with aplurality of secondary pushers 30 secured on a rod 31 reciprocatory onthe bottom of the trough by an adjustable connection with the ram 28.This adjustable connection preferably comprises thrustpins 32 positionedin the desired apertures pro-- vided in the end of rod 31 and'coactingwith an extension 33 on the ram 28. The strokes of the rams 28, thepushers 30 and the various fuel feeding members for the stoker propermay all be relatively adjusted as desired. The rams 28 receivereciprocating movement from the steam pistons 12 by means of a series.of articulated rods 34, 35, 36, 37, which oscillate about fixed pivots`38 and 39, the connection between rods 35 and rods 13 being provided byuniversal joints 40. Each ram 28 is connected with a coal breaker 41having reciprocating movement across the opening in the bottom of thefuel tender, whereby the -fuel is agitated above the opening topreventvobstruction thereof andv insure continued feeding' of the fuelfromy the tender into the troughs 27 The conveyor means furthercomprises a trough section 42 for each t-rough having one end projectinginto the hopper 8 and its opposite end flexibly and slidably connectedwith the corresponding end of the trough 27 by meansof hingedvplates 43'connected to the trough Ysection and slidably receivedl by guides 44 onthe sides and bottom of thetrough 27.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of `the invention installed in afurnace of a' marine boiler. In the present instance a fuel bedsubstantially V-shaped incl-oss section is provided by two series ofalternating twyers and fuel retorts or troughs. The fuel retorts ortroughs 1 alternate with the t-wyers 2 and successively decrease indepth froln the sides of the furnace toward a medial fore'and aft linethereof, and the twyers are stepped downwardly from the sides of thefurnace to successively decrease their elevation. A plurality of grates3 are.l provided at the lower-most twyers, said grat'es formingcontinuat-ions of the V-shaped fuel bed inclinations. The grates 3 aredisposed on both sides of the medial fore and aft line of the furnace toprovide a central refuse discharge opening 4. An ash pit 5 i extendslongitudinallj1 of the furnace and e is disposed centrally t ieof belowthe refuse discharge \opening 4. The fuel is fedv ram 7*. T he fuelfeedingk devices are driven by the crank shaft receiving movement fromany suitable source of power, for example a speed .box 46 and connectingrods 47 transmitting movementcto each of the feeding rams and also tothe crushing rollers pusher.

20 by means of a rod 48 carrying a pawl 49 and the opposite end of therod being fixed on a shaft 50 carrying a ratchet wheel 51 and bevelgears 52, one of the latter being mounted on the shaft of each crusher.Pan'l 49 maintains asdriving 'connection for the above describedmechanism by engaging ratchet Wheel 51. Automatic discharge andlcarrying away of the refuse is effected in this embodiment of theinvention by con-v veying means disposed on the bottom of the ash-pit,preferably having the `form vof a pusher 53 provided vwith a pluralityof.

pusher element-s 54. Said pusher is reciprocated by means of anAoscillating lever 55 having a pin and slot connection at one end and. athrust pin connection of thetype above referred to with the outer end-`of the The thrust pins 56 of said lastnamed connection are disposed insuitable .is destroyed or rendered unfit' for use, the

same may be removed and replaced without -necessitating removal of thecomplete twyer.

By this u construction of twyer, expensive maintenance incident to thetwyers heretofore proposed is eliminated. As shown, each ltwyer ispreferably made of a plurality of sections, each section comprising ahollow frame 58 having end plates '59 secured there- 'to by bolts 60,the plates 59 being provided on their ends and `upper edgeswithcdovetailed slots 61 which receive doveTtailed tenons of sidebars'62 and the aforesaid corrugated fuel supporting bars 57,respectively.' The corrugated fuel supporting bars,

that coact with the sides of frame 58 to provide Venturi passages forair delivered therethrough to the fuel bed, are preferably arranged instepped relation to provide air spaces 63 therebetween whichprogressively decrease in size, the total area of said spaces beingincreased by the corrugations of the bars.V This increase in the sectionof the air spaces enables maintenance of very high combustion rates. Theside bars 62 are provided "with air passages 64 which diverge inwardlyfrom the sides of the bars, and by their formation reduce the force ofthe draft airl which heretoforehas been a considerable disadvantagewhere a. rectangular section of the air passages was employed. The airor oxidizing agent for supporting combustion may be introducedlto thefuel bed through a suitable conduit 65 by means of anysuitable devicesuch as a fan, and: the supply of combustion supporting fluid may beregulated by dampers 66 positioned in the combustion supporting fluidconduit 65.

'When the invention is installed, with a locomotive, movement of thelatter may be utilized to create a forced draft, and ref'er-v 75 'ringto Fig. 1 the air is shown as supplied steam by means of pipe 69 whichmay be 85 connected with the boiler or exhaust ofthe steam cylinders.

In accordance with one featurevof the present invention, expensivemaintenance incide'nt to the twyers heretofore .proposed may 99 beeliminated by providing twyers having a water circulation therethrough,and Fig. 9 illustrates a longitudinal section through parts of anautomatic stolzer such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the twyers in thiscase being 95 composed of water tubes 70 arranged in spaced relationtoprovide, preferably, graduated air spaces therebetween, the ends ofthe water tubes being received in the headers of the boiler. Plugs 71 inthe outer Walls of 100 the headers provide means of access to theinterior of the tubes, whereby the same may be cleaned as desired. Itwill thus be obvious that the life of the twyers will be considerablyincreased, that a greatly increased heating surface will be provided forthe boiler, and the general efficiency of the Stoker' considerablyimproved.

In accordance With another feature of this invention, the fuel feedingmechanism is provided With a safety device whereby. if operation of oneor more of the fuel feeding members is for any reason prevented, thedriving mechanism and the remaining fuel feeding members will continueto operate.

Referring to Fig. 11 there is illustrated a device of this characterwhich is applicable to any form of fuel .feeding mechanism. The devicepreferably comprises a slip connection between the connecting rod of thedriv- 120 ing mechanism and the fuel feeding member or ram. In the formshown, this slip connection consists of a bushing` 72 having one endpivotally connected with the ram 7 aud its opposite end slidablyconnected with the 72 and a cap-nut 74 having a central open- 130 Theforward end 80 i ,tive connection between the ram andthe thrust of the"rod 47, whereby the latter will driving rod by means `of springs 77secured to the ram and the outer ends of the thrust members. Ifoperation of the ram should, for any reason, be prevented, such as anAobstruction to itsb'feeding movement, the thrust members 76 will bedisplaced by the forward.

continue its forward movement, the thrust members being displacedthrough the slots 75 by the enlargement 7 3. The length of this enlarement will of course be determined by t ie length of the stroke of theram, so that at no time in the moveinent of drivin rod 47 will thethrust members 76 drop be ind the enlargement 7 3. On rearward movement,rod 47 will move the ram therewith, thethrust members 76 droppingthrough the slots 75 to a position in front of the enlargement 73. Ifthe obstruction has beenl removed, the ram. will move forward with thedriving rod' on the next cycle, the

,springs 77 being of suiiicient strength to normally maintain arigidfconnection between the two members.

While the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been describedwith considerable particularity, it is to be expressly uii- -de'rstoodthat changes in the construction,

bodiment; and that reference should therefore be made to ltheclaims fora definition of this invention.

What is claimed is 1. In an automaticunderfeed Stoker, a

lurality of twyers successively decreasing in elevation from the sidesof the furnace toward a medial fore and aft` line thereof,

-fuel retorts or troughs on both sides of said medial line, and meansfor feeding fuel through said'retorts to said twyers. l

2. In an automatic underfeed Stoker, a plurality of twyers successivelyAdecreasing in elevation from the sides of the furnace, toward a medialfore and aft line thereof, fuel retorts or troughs alternating with saidtwyers, and means for feedingkprogressively to said twyers.

decreasing quantities ',of fuel through the successive retorts from thesides ofthe furnace. V

3.v In an automatic underfeed stoker, a plurality of twyers successivelydecreasing in elevation fromthe sides of the furnace toward a medialfore and aft line thereof,

fuel retorts or troughs on both sides'of said v medial line, andareciprocating fuel pusher in each --of said retorts for feeding fuelthrough the retorts or troughs to said twyers.'

4. In an automatic underfeed stoker, a I

plurality of twyers successively decreasing in elevation from the sidesof the furnace toward ,a medial fore .and aft line thereof, fuel retortsor troughs alternating with said twyers, and fuel feeding devices havingrelretorts' for feeding fuel through the retorts i 6. In an underfeedstoker, a series of twyers successively increasing in elevation from anintermediate line toward the sides of the furnace, fuel, retorts. ortroughs alternating with -said twyers and successively increasing incross-section 4from said medial line toward the sides ofthe furnace, andmeans for feeding fuel through said retorts or* troughs. v

7. In an underfeed Stoker, a series of twyers successively increasinginelevation from an intermediate line toward the sides of the furnace,fuel retorts or troughs alternating with said twyers, and fuel-feedingdevices successively increasing in ca acity from said intermediate linetowardV tlie sides of the furnace for feeding progressively increasingquantities of fuel through the successive retorts or troughs on bothsides of said ,inter-4 mediate line. v V

8. In an underfeed Stoker, a plurality' of .twyers successivelydecreasing in elevation from the sides ofthe-furnace toward anintermediate line, fuel retorts or troughs alternating with said twyers,said twyers 'and retorts providing` a fuel bed, and means for feedingfuel through said retorts to said` fuel'bed adapted to' decrease thesupply of fuel from the sides toward the center thereof.

9. In an 'automatic underfeed Stoker, an

lurality of twyers successively decreasing in elevation from thesides.of the furnace toward a medial fore-and aft linethereof,

fiel retorts or troughs alternating with said twyers, and means forfeeding fuel through said retorts to said twyers.

10. In .an automatic underfeed Stoker, 'a'

\ furnace toward a medial fore and aft line' thereof and a plurality ofretorts alternating with said twyers and having progressively idecreasing capacity from the sidesofthe furnace toward said medial line,and means for feeding fuel through said retorts to 'said fuel bed. I

12. In an automatic underfeed `Stoker, a

20. plurality of oppositely disposed retorts extending lon -itudinallyof the ,furnace and'` successlvely ecreasin indepth and capacity from'the sides of 51e furnace toward a medial fore and aft line thereof,twyers on both sides of said retorts, and means for feeding fuel throughsaid retorts to said twyers. 13.5In an underfeed Stoker, a. V-shapedfuel bed, and means in successive portions of'each inclined side of saidfuel bed for supplying fuel thereto in successively decreasingquantities from the top to the bottoin of the fuel bed. 'y

14;; In an1autom'ati'cj underfeed. Stoker, a shaped fuel bed providedatthe bottom thereof with a-"refuse discharge opening, said fuel bedcomprising a fuel retort or trough at each side of the medial fore andaft line of the furnace, twyers at the sides of each retort andsuccessively decreasing in eleva- -tion from the sides of the furnacetoward said refuse discharge opening; and means for feeding fuel throughsaid retorts to said twyers. y

15. In an automatic' underfeed Stoker, a fuel bed comprising twooppositely disposed series of alternating twyers and retorts Yextendinglongitudinally of the furnace, thetwyers of each series successivelydecreasing j toward a medial fore and aft line thereof, means forfeeding fuel through saidretorts to said fuel bed, a grate at the bottomof said fuel bed, and means yat the bottom of said grate for crushingand discharging the solid products of combustion.

16. In an'automatic underfeed Stoker, two oppositely disposed series ofalternating twyers and retorts extending longitudinally c of thefurnace, the twyers of eachl series successivel decreasing in elevationfrom a side of the rnace toward a medial fore and aft line thereof,means for feeding fuel through said retorts to said twyers, a pluralityof grates adjacent the lowermost twyers, means at the bottom of saidgrates for automatically discharging the solid products of combustion,and an adjustable air supply for said grates.

17. In an automatic underfeed Stoker, a fuel bed provided with a centralrefuse diss charge opening and comprising two oppositely disposed seriesof alternating twyers and retorts extendin longitudinally of thefurnace, the twyers o each series successively decreasing in lelevationrespectivelyfrom a side of the furnace toward said refuse dis-V chargeopening, and means for 'feeding fuel in a longitudinal direction throughsaid retorts t0 said fuel bed. c A 80 18. In an automatic underfeedStoker, a i plurality of alternating twyers and retorts .successivelydecreasing in elevation respecmedial fore and aft#` line thereof, meanstively from the sides of the furnace toward a vfor feeding fuel throughsaid retorts to the vfuel bed, a plurality of grates at the centerofs'aid fue] bed and forminga continuation thereof, and an air supplyfor the fuel bed `progressively decreasing from the lateral 9u partsthereof to the central ates.

19. In an automaticl un erfeed stoker, a plurality of alternatingtwyers` and retorts, said twyers successively decreasing in eleva; tionfrom the sides of the furnace toward a medial fore and aft line thereof,said twyers and retorts providing an inclined fuel bed, and means forfeeding to the fuelA bed progressively decreasing vquantities of fuelthrough successive retorts from the sides of l". the furnace toward themedial fore and aft line thereof.

20. In an automaticunderfeed Stoker, a plurality of oppositely disposedretortse-xtending longitudinally of 'the furnace and l" successivelydecreasing in capacity toward the center thereof, a plurality of twyerson both sides of said retorts, said tw ers and retorts providing aninclined fuell ed, and means for feeding fuel through said retorts l" tosaid fuel bed cemprising main and secl ondary reciprocatingmembers, saidsecondary members being disposed substantially throughout the length ofthe retorts.

in elevation from a side of the furnace` 21. In an automatic underfeedStoker, a n.

lplurality `of oppositely disposed retorts exf tending longitudinally ofthe furnace and Vsuccessively decreasing in capacity from the sides ofthe furnace toward the center -thereof, tw ers on both sides of theretorts and l.

vprovi ing therewith a V-shaped fuel bed,'re

ladjusting the stroke of said rec ci rocating vmeans for feeding fuelthrough said retorts to said fuel bed, and means for iprocatingmeans. l.

22. In combination with a furnace, a V- shaped fuel bed extending lonitudinally of the furnace and having are use discharge opening at thebottom thereof, said fuel bed comprising a fuel retort or trough at each.msi-aso;

.. I' sideoftlie medial line` and of thei'furnace" y twyers. at-both"sides of said retorts and successively decreasing in elevation from'thesides 'of the furnace toward saidmedial line, means for feeding fuellthrough said vre' torts",- to said twyers,.'and a. refuse chamber larrange-d below saidrefuse discharge open-` ing land provided withmeansC for ejecting through saidv opening A successively decreasing inelevation fromthe sides of'tle furnace toward said refuse dis.

charge opening, means ada ted to feed fuel through said retorts tosaifuel bed,an.d a

refuse discharge chamber arranged' below said refuse discharge opening.24. In comb'natiom'a furnace provide -with a central refuse dischargepassage, an

inclined fuelobed in said furnace comprising oppositely disposed seriesof alternating twyers and retorts extending longitudinally of thefurnace, said twyers successively decreasing in elevation from'the sidesof the furnace `toward said refuse discharge pas- 'sage reciprocatingmeans for feeding fuel through said retorts to said fuel bed', crushingmeans arranged in said refuse discharge passage and connected with saldfuel feedmg meansto be operated thereby, and means for regulating themotion` of said fuel feed. ing means .and sai-d crushing means.

25. In an automatic Stoker, a fuel retort or trou h and a sectionaltwyer disposed adjacent t ereto, 'each twyer section comprisin a hollow'frame and a plurality 'of space corrugated` fuel supporting bars carriedthereby, said bars being vdetachably secured on ,said frameindependently of each other andextendng in the direction of the lengthof the twyer. 'f

26. In an automatic Stoker, or trough and a sectional twyerdisposedadjacent thereto, each twyer section comprising a hollow -`frameand a seriesofv-se arately detachable orrugated fuel supporting barsmounted on said rame andfhaving air the fuel bed.

spaces therebetween varying in size as-'respectseach other.

or trough, and a twyer'disposed adjacent thereto, said twyer including ahollow frame and a lurality of fuel lsu porting bars dP onthe'frame,'said ars an .sides of said frame coacting to provide Venturipassages for air In an automatic stoker, a fuel retort ortrough and asectional twyer disposed adjacent thereto, each twyerl sectioncomdelivered therethrough- 'to prising 'a hollow @rame and a',pluralityof Acorrugated fuel supporting bars detachably secured on theframe in st ped relation, said bars-and sides vof said ame coacting toprovide Venturi passa' es for /air'delivered therethrough to the uelbed.

A 29. In an automatic Stoker, a 'fuel retort" or trough, a sectionaltwyer at one side of the fuel retort or'trough, each twyer section beingprovided with corrugated- A4fuel -supporting bars stepped upwardly fromsaid side of the fuel retort or trough and arranged substantiallyparallel therewith; and a sectional twyer at the opposite side of thefuel retort or trough, each twyer section being provided with corrugatedfuel supportV ing bars' stepped downwardly from the said side of 'thefuel .retort or trough and arranged substantially. parallel therewith.

30. In an automatic stoker, a fuel -retort or trough, and sectionaltwyers at the sides,

of said retort, the sections of said twyers each comprising side wallsprovided with air passages', end walls, and fuel supporting bars spacedapart and extending in the 'di'- rrection of the length of the retort,said bars being detachably secured on said end walls.

31. In anautomatic Stoker, a fuel retort or trougggh,= and sectionaltwyers at the sides 'of said retort, the sections 'of saidtwyers eachlomprising a hollow body, u wardly extending plates detachably secure tothe ends of said body, side walls detachabl i secured on said plates,and relativelyj'smal A corrugated fuel supportin bars'secured on saidplates in stepped re ation vto provide air spaces. v j

32'. In' an automatic Stoker; a fuel retrt or trough, and sectionaltwyers at the sides of said retort, the sections of said twyers each'comprisingl side walls provided with inwardly converging air passages,and rela-- tively small corrugated fuel supporting bars arranged instepped .relation-and extending in the direction of the length of saidretort.

33. In an automatic Stoker, a -fuel retort 6r trough,y and twyers at thesides of said retort each comprlsing a plurality of substantiallyrectangular hollow members dis-'" posed in end`to end relation, and aplurality of relatively small fuel supporting bars on each of saidmembersA and extending in the direction ofl the length of said retort,said I bars being arranged in stepped relation to 27. In an automaticstoker,ja fuel retort provide air passages, the bars bein corrugated toincrease the total section o lthe air passages and-,to provide `externalash collecting recesses.

l 34'. The combination in a locomotive, a

torts on each side v'of' said passage, said- "twyers successivelydecreasing in ,elevation from the sides of thefurnace `toward ,saidlllrefuse dischar elpassage to provide an inclined fuel be and means forfeeding fuel through said retorts to said .fuel bed.

35. The combination in a locomotive, 1afurnace having an inclined fuelbed `coin-v prising two opposed series of alternating 'twyers andretorts, said twyers successively decreasing in -elevation from thesides of thel for feeding fuel through said retorts to saidv fuel bed,fand automatic means'for crushing f and discharging the solid productsof combustion delivered through said opening from said fuel bed.

36. The combination in furnace having an inclined fuel bed comprising avplurality of fuel retorts succes from thesides; .of the furnace toward ame ial fore and aft;

sively decreasing in capacit line thereof and twyers on both sides orsaid retorts, and means for feeding fuel through said retorts -t0 saidfuel bed.,

37. The combina-tion in a locomotive, a furnace having an inclinedfuelbed comprising a plurality of alternating twyers and retortsextending longitudinally ofthe fur.V

nace, said twyers successively decreasing in elevat-ion fromthe sides ofthe furnace toward a medial fore and aft line thereof,

and imeans, for feeding fuel through said d retorts to said fuel bed,the retortsdecreasing in cross-section toward `the center of the- A aplurality'ofalternating twyers and retorts,

furnace. 38. In an automatic stoker, a plurality of fuel retortssuccessively decreasing lin capacity from the sides of thefurnace towarda medial fore and aft line thereof, twyers on both sides of saidretorts, and means for feeding fuel throughA said .retorts to saidtwyers comprising a reciprocatory member for each retort and a leverconnected with said-.members and arranged to oscillate about a centralpivot. y

39. In an automatic Stoker, a. pluralitypof fuel retorts successivelydecreasing in ca pacity from the sides of the furnace toward a medialfore and aft line thereof, twyers on both sides of said retort-sandmeans for feeding fuel through said retorts to said twyers comprisingyrcc'iprocatory members for each retort having successively decreasingstrokes from the sides of the furnace toward lthe center thereof.

40. In an automatic Stoker. a plurality' of fuel retorts successivelydecreasing in cav `pacity from the sides of the furnace toward a medialfore and aft line thereof, twyers on both sides ofsaid retorts, meansfor feeding fuel through said retorts to said "twyers-y comprising aplurality of fuel feeding members -disposed within the'retorts,andliaving successively decreasing strokes respectively a locomotive,-aj

-bers'and arranged to oscillate about a central pivot.

41. In combination, a furnace, a fuel bed in said furnacefconiprisingtwo opposedisevries of alternating twyers and retorts, said twyerssuccessively decreasing 1n elevation lfrom the sides of the furnace'toward a .me-

dial fore and aft line thereof, a refuse discharge openin at the bottomof said fuel bed and a refuse chamber in the 4furnacel arranged belowsaid vrefuse discharge opening, retorts: to said fuel be and means insaid refusechamber for ejectin liverd thereto through sai opening.

-Y 1 '42. InI combination, a furnace, a fuelbed land aft line thereof, arefuse discharge opening at the bottom of said fuelvbed and a refusechamber in the furnace arranged below said refuse discharge opening,means for feeding fuel through said retorts to saidfuel bed. means insaid refuse chamber for ejecting the refuse delivered .thereto throughsaid opening, and means for regulating the lspeed of ejection of therefuse.'

43.' In combination with a furnace, a V- shaped fuel bed in said furnacecomprising said twyers successively decreasing in elevation from thesides of the. furnace-toward the medial line thereof, a fuel hop-per atthe means for feeding fuel through said the .refuse dei shaped fuel 'bedin said furnace comprising 1 a plurality of alternating twyers andretorts, said twyers successively decreasing in elevation from the sidesof the furnace toward the medial line' thereof, a fuel hopper at thevouter end of each retort, means advancing the fuel from said hopper tosaid fuel bed,

means supplying fuel to said hopper, arid` means for drivingsaid fuelfeeding iiians operatively connected with said hopper supplying means todrive the same.

45. In combination with a furnace, a 4V- shaped fuel bed in said'furnacecomprising two opposed series of alternating twyers and retorts, saidtwyers successively decreasing; 1n elevation from the sides of thefurnace'.-

toward the medial line thereof, a hopper `supplying fuelto the outer endof each-retort, means advancing the fuel through the retorts to saidfuel bed', conveyor means supplying fuel 'to the fuel hopper, meanssup-r plying fuelv to the conveyor means, and

means for agitating the fuel to insure its movement onto the conveyormeans.l

46. In combination with a furnace'having a V-sha fuel bed comprising aplurality of 'longltudinallye'xtendmg retorts successively decreasing indepth from me longitudinal sides of the furnace toward the medial linethereof and twyers on both sides of the retorts, a fuel hopper supplyingfuelto the outer ends of the retorts, means advancing1 the fuel throughthe retorts to the fuel be conveyor means supplying fuel to the fuelhopper, and flexible connections between the conveyor meansand the fuelhopper.

47. Incombination with a locomotive and fuel tender therefor, a furnaceon the locomotive provided -with a fuel bed comprisingA in elevationfrom the sides of the furnace toward the medial line thereof, meansfeeding fuel through said retorts to said fuelbed comprising main andsecondary fuel feeding members disposed substantially 4throughout the leh of each retort, and means supplying fuel from the fuel tender to saidfuel fee means.

49." n combination with a locomotive'and l v furnace therefor, a fuelbed in said furnace fuel tender therefor, a -furnace on theloco- A Aymotive provided with a fuel bed two series of alternatin twyers andtorts extending longitudinally-of the I said twyers successivelydecreasing in elevation from the vsides of the furnace toward the medialline thereof, means feeding fuel through said fuel retorts to saidfueland means suppl ing fuel from the fuel tender to said fue feeding means,said'fuel supplying means comprising main 'and sec- Ondal'y fuel feedingmembers on the bottom 'of the fuel tender. f

50. In combination with a locomotive and comprising a plurality ofalternatin twyers and retorts disposed-longitudinallyo the vfuri nace,said twyers `successively decreasing in elevationA from the sides of thefurnace toward a central discharge opening thereof, a

conduit arranged longitudinally ofthe locomotive for supplyin air to'said twyersand receivin a forced raft by motionof the locomotive, duitfor supplying steam with the forced air draft.

51. Inl an automatic Stoker, a pluralityfof i fuel retorts ortroughs,and a sectional twyers alternating wi retorts or troughs andsuccessively decreasing in elevation l toward the interior thereof, thetwyer sec-V tions each being provided with a plurality of detachablefuel supporting bars arrangedin stepped relation an tion of the lengthof the twyer.

In testimony whereof I have specification.

lurality of tlh said fuel signed this.

MAURICE RATEL,

@maar and means arranged in'said confrom a wall of the furnace extendingin the direc- 76

